INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines - University of Perpetual Help swept NCAA volleyball newcomer Mapua Institute of Technology 25-10, 25-10, 25-13 at the Emilio Aguinaldo College Sports Center in Manila.

Ronery de la Cruz scored 15 points for the Lady Altas, most of them set up by team captain
Kesia Mary de Luna.

The Lady Cardinals tried to mount a comeback in the final set but fell short as the Lady Altas? defense pulled through to seal the win.

Perpetual climbed to 2-0 while Mapua suffered its first defeat this season.

?Mapua is a newcomer but they showed that they are a very determined team,? said coach Miguel Rafael, who has been coaching the Lady Altas for 13 years.

With an intact line-up boosted by four rookies, Rafael said they are looking to surpass their second-runner up finish last season.

?We are training harder this season; we practice three to four hours everyday,? he added.

Earlier, guest school Angeles University Foundation also scored a 25-8, 25-8, 25-14 sweep over Jose Rizal University.

For most of the game, the Lady Bombers struggled receiving the ball from their hard-serving opponents.

Regine Angeles scored 18 points in the second set alone to lift the Lady Danes, who improved to 1-1. The Lady Bombers, meanwhile, suffered their first loss.